Counterpoise adjusting apparatus for machine tool-beds and the like.



H. B. DURKEB.

GOUNTEEPOISE ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR MACHINE TOOL BEDS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1914.

I 1,121,991, Patented Dec.22,1914.

ATE ones.

HENRY B. DURKEE, 013 BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNITED INJECTOR COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.', A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' GOUNTERPOISE ADJUSTING APPARATUS FOR MACHINE TOOL-BEDS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 22, 19114.

Application filed May 20, 1914. Serial No. 889,862.

and is addressed particularly to use with ad- I just'able machine tool beds which are ponderous and moved with difficulty, espeoially in a vertical direction. I am aware that the effort necessary to operate mechanical lifts for such machine-members has been mitigated by means of counterweights, and that hydraulic -means have been employed as the mechanical lift and support for such machine members. But the employment of oounterweights involves this detriment, that it relieves the mechanical lift of a considerable part ofthe weight which the lift supports, and thusdetracts from the solidity desired and expected of such machine members when the operationsof the machine are performed. The counterweight rendersthe bed, or what not, a semi floating object,

whereas when once adjusted it should stand as firm and immovable as possible. Hydraulic lifts and supports are subject to leakage and loss of adjustment and are moreover, hardly adaptable to many situations when a machine bed or the like is to be lifted and supported.

By means of my invention herein described, the work required to raise or lower a machine bed is materially reduced and the mechanical lift relieved of the greater part of the stresses and wear incident to the operations of raising and lowering the bed, while, when the machine bed has beenadjusted to the desiredposition the entire weight' of 'the bed is replaced on the mechanical lift, which by its nature is a solid and unyielding support. Then, when the machine operations are in progress, the machine bed is anchored by its full weight.

In the drawings hereto annexed, which illustrate my invention,Figure is a side view of a boring mill with yertically adjustable bed and with my ad usting mechanism attached; and Fig. 2 is an end view of part of said boring mill, showing the which forms part of the adjusting mechanism.

The boring mill itself is only'shown in part and in outline; A represents the main standard of the boring mill frame, and B its vertically adjustable bed. The boring mill is taken as an example of the machines to which my invention may be applied.

- The mechanical lift and support of the bed B is typified by the lifting screws C, which may be mechanically operated in any acceptable manner, as by a worm-shaft, worm-wheels and rotating nuts-none of which are here shown. A rack D is secured to the under side of the bed B, preferably immediately below the center of gravity thereof, and this rack meshes with pinion E. fixed to shaft F. A grooved ulley G, also fixed to shaft F carries a fiexi 1e connection H such as a wire rope or cable, which is secured in the oove of pulley Gr at one end and t0 the yo re I at the other. Yoke I, side rods J and yoke R, together constitute a side frame, which is mounted to reciprocate with relation to a single acting pneumatic cylinder 0, the side rot s J being ided for the purpose in holes K and L, firmed in ears on the cylinder head M and bracket plate N, respectively. The cylinder 0 is secured at its open end to the bracket plate N which is apertured at N. The piston P carries a piston rod Q which is secured to the yoke Bracket S which carries the bracket plate N is bolted or otherwise secured to the machine bed. A pipe T communicates with the interior of the cylinder 0 through the cylinder head M, and leads from some suitable supply of pneumatic pressure, (not shown). In this ipe, laced conven'iently to the hand of the wor man, there is a regulating valve U,'with its operating handle V. The available pneumatic pressure, the area of the piston P, and the powermultiple of the rack D, pinion E and pulley G, are mutually determined and controlled so that the lifting efi'ort of the pneumatic counterpoise system sufiices to relieve' the mechanical lift of most but not all, of the superincumbent load of the bed B, so that when the bed is'to be lifted (or lowered) the mechanical lift must be operated. The relief of load, due to the counterpoise system.

bracket for attaching the counterpoise u swmer lid makes the operation of the mechanical lift easy (which is particularly desirable when the'mechanical lift is worked by hand) and greatly reduces the wear u on the hearings on which the mechanical 1i t operates. But

the necessity for employing the mechanical lift keeps the supporting points for the machine bed always in working position, so that the actual adjustment of the bed is accomplished by elevation or depression of these supporting points. While being lifted or lowered, the-machine bedpartly floats on its supporting) points, and is not anchored firmlfy t ereon y the weight of the bed itsel But when the adjustment of the bed is secured, the mechanical lift is sto ped, and the workman shuts off the supply of neumatic pressure by closing the valve U.

hereupon the inevitable slight leakage from the cylinder causes the full weight I of the machine bed to be restored to the bearing oints furnished by the now stationary mec anical lift, so that the bed is firmly anchored on its supports, in proper condition for the machine 0 erations.

By employing a sing e-acting cylinder an i the side frame system I, J, R, the leakage of pneumatic pressure which would be involved if a stuffing box were used for the piston Q, is avoided. The flexible connecting member H enables the counterpoise system to be convenient ly attached to the machine in a horizontal position.

What I claim and desire to secure by Let ters Patent is:

1. In adjusting apparatus for machine tool beds and the like, the combination with the bed of a mechanically operating lift, and a counterpoise comprising a pneumatic cylinder its piston, connections between the piston and the bed, and means to control the pneumatic pressure in the cylinder.

2. In ad usting apparatus for machine tool beds and the like, the combination with the bed of a mechanically operating lift, and a counterpoise comprlsing a pneumatic cylinder, its iston, connections between the piston and t e bed, comprising a flexible connecting member, and means to control the pneumatic ressure in the cylinder.

3. In a usting apparatus for machine tool beds and the like, the combination with the bed of a mechanically operating lift, and a counterpoise comprising a single-acting pneumatic cylinder, its piston, connections between'the piston and t e bed, comprising a side frame connected to the piston, and a flexible connecting member attached to the side frame adjacent to the head end of the cylinder, and means to control the pneumatic pressure in the cylinder.

4. In adjusting apparatus for machine tool heals and the like, the combination with the bed of a mechanically operating lift, and a counterpoise, and means to apply and to krJelJeaSa the action of the counterpoise on the In adjusting apparatus for machine tool beds and the like, the combination with the bed of amechanically operating lift and a counterpoise efiective to counteract only in part the weight of the bed, and means to apply and to release the action of the counterpoise,

Signed by me at Boston, Massachusetts, this 19th day of Ma 191 i,

H NRY B. DURKEE. Witnesses: v Cnaaans D. Woonnnnar, Josnrnmn H. Rania 

